My wood salad bowl is 7+ years old and has a few cracks. Is this unsafe due to bacteria growing?

Sam1148 added over 1 year ago

What type of wood? Some wood has anti bacterial qualities and is much safer for cutting boards vs plastic with similar micro cracks and abrasions.

I wouldn't worry to much about it, except for the cosmetic issue if that's a problem.

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usuba dashi added over 1 year ago

I would thoroughly clean the bowl & the cracks with a mild solution of water and bleach. After it has dried completely, fill the cracks with an epoxy wood filler, one used by furniture builders. They come in many different colors and are easy to use. After it dries, sand the epoxy smooth, oil the bowl with a little walnut oil and bees wax. The bowl will have a wonderful charm to it. I have done this through the years with many wooden food contact surfaces such as cutting boards, bowls and old butcher blocks. As much as some woods have an antibacterial property, there is a very good reason food safety experts shy away from wood as a contact surface for food. It is better to be safe then sorry and fill the cracks.

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creamtea added over 1 year ago

usuba dashi, hope you see this. So the epoxy when dried is completely stable and won't leach into foods (including acidic ones?).

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usuba dashi added over 1 year ago

@creamtea - correct. These epoxies are made specifically for woodworking to fill cracks, made to withstand all sorts of abuse. It would be a crime to through away such a wonder wooden bowl.

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